At the International Conference on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development (ICARRD+20), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean advanced a comprehensive agenda focused on equitable land and water access, agrarian justice, and sustainable, inclusive rural development. The event, held from 24 to 28 February in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, brought together participants from over 100 countries, including governments, Indigenous Peoples, peasant communities, rural women, youth, academia, and civil society, to address contemporary territorial challenges and strengthen land governance.
Through discussions, workshops, and exchanges, FAO shared analyses, experiences, and technical tools aimed at promoting just and resilient territories with greater opportunities for rural populations. Amparo Cerrato, FAO Land Tenure and Natural Resources Officer, emphasized the agency’s commitment to providing evidence-based guidance, regional coordination, and technical support to countries pursuing sustainable rural development.
The conference built on the legacy of the 2006 International Conference on Agrarian Reform, which established equitable land access as a key mechanism to combat hunger and rural poverty. Over the years, these efforts have supported instruments such as the 2012 Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests, and reinforced the recognition of land rights in the 2030 Agenda, strengthening protections for historically excluded rural populations.
FAO participated in sessions in partnership with Brazil’s Institute for Colonization and Agrarian Reform (INCRA) and the Brazilian Cooperation Agency (ABC), highlighting South-South Cooperation as a mechanism for regional solutions. Specific sessions emphasized the rights of Andean-Amazonian rural women, recognizing their leadership in territorial management and productive roles, and addressed mechanisms to improve agrarian justice in Colombia, contributing to territorial equity.
Geospatial and cadastral information was highlighted as a strategic tool in the “Geography for Agrarian Reform: Data, Land and Peace” session, demonstrating how data-driven policies can secure land rights and support evidence-based territorial peace processes. Additional dialogues on water, food, and well-being underscored the interconnectedness of natural resource management, food security, and community resilience, stressing the need for equitable access to water and land.
FAO concluded its participation with a session on legal innovation and solidarity, presenting new mechanisms and collaborative frameworks to democratize land access across Latin America and the Caribbean, reinforcing the agency’s role in fostering inclusive, sustainable, and just rural development in the region.
